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Andy_MJD
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Playtime (1967)
Great - but long
A movie brimming with eye candy - lovely shots and colours throughout. Quite funny at times, Tati makes another film filled with clever commentary/caricature of society, from pet peeves we all seem to share to larger-than-life eccentrics who take over an entire scene. The Where's Waldo-esque construction of shots and chorégraphies was incredibly fitting and unique, especially at the beginning.
All this said, it is a very long film which drags at times. Towards the beginning, this slow pacing is quite entertaining because it is fitting of the film's content- but scenes become long-winded towards the latter half of the film.
Bringing Up Baby (1938)
Eh.
There are maybe a dozen funny moments, the rest is a meandering, slow, tepid film, with bad edits and sound. The characters are hateable and the ending is rushed beyond all rushed endings. There are too many side characters and motivations make no sense.
In short, it's a terrible story. The clever lines from Katharine Hepburn are lovely but far in between, and Carey Grant plays a mopey simp the entire film, then suddenly changes character in the last scene.
The leopard was also whipped during production, so minus points for animal abuse.
A Haunted House (2013)
Simple, dumb, fun
A nice twist on the haunted house trope, unapologetically itself and fun.
The House That Jack Built (2018)
Profoundly interesting
A film that struck me as incredibly unique among my repertoire so far.
The ending seems confused and disjointed from the rest of the film, and is unfortunately very unsatisfying, especially compared to the rest of the film which is a very interesting experience.
The main actor's performance was thoroughly interesting, and the direction is very clear in many areas.
The highs of this film merit a 9/10 but the lows deserve a 4/10. I give it a 7 because it is interesting and entertaining to watch, if nothing else with some friends to laugh at the strange choices at points.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Aww geez, I guess
This film is painfully bland in just about every regard. Just because it's a kid's film doesn't mean it needed to be so unremarkable.
The movie gets a bonus star for going through the incredibly difficult process of reanimating its main character because fans were unhappy.
Upon reconsideration a few months later, I think kids will thoroughly enjoy this film, and I suppose that's really it's goal. That doesn't mean it gets a free pass on a lot of its moderately lazy writing, but I did enjoy certain elements.
I hope Hollywood can someday do a movie for a video game character that isn't about that character interacting with our world - just embrace the video game, you nerds
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood (2019)
Awesome :)))
A movie with a seemingly slow start, but everything amounts into an epic ending that on its own justifies this film as truly masterful.
The visuals (cinematography, production design, costumes) and acting throughout were insanely fun and enchanting.
The only thing keeping this film from a ten for me is the inclusion of Margot Robbie's character: I love the actress, but I found her character added nothing to the story and could've shaved off a good 10 minutes of runtime, but I guess QT would've lost some premium FOOTage there.
Toy Story 4 (2019)
A fantastic end to an iconic franchise :)
A masterpiece that closes this beloved franchise so fully that I could never ask for another one. So many things to say, but the biggest ones are the following: Heart-wrenching and also funny and exciting; beautiful to watch, listen to, and experience; and the villain is amazing. Picking up on that last one, the hero, and story, can only be as good as the villain (because otherwise there's no tension and the hero has nothing to surpass), and Gabby Gabby is nuanced, in such an interesting way (I understand her motives but I still don't agree with her, it's perfect). Woody is really the main focus of this movie, as it's always been, *reaaally*, and his character arc is completed here. The whole girl power thing was definitely present but not super pushed, so that was cool.
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019)
I'm so happy this film exists!
A spectacular movie. The inclusion of Pokémon anywhere from Gen 1 to (at least) 5 (B&W). The visual effects are absolutely stunning, and each Pokémon has such care put into their design, animation, and sound that they feel like plausible animals. The storyline was fine, enough to carry the narrative, the characters, and the feels, the world, and the humour. I guess the ending rules out any possibility of a sequel, despite making nearly 3 times its budget at the box office. Molly Freeman from ScreenRant echoes my thoughts: "In a movie about Pokémon, though, the story isn't necessarily the biggest draw. It needs to be solid enough to carry viewers through this larger world and, in that regard, Detective Pikachu is a success. The story may not be Detective Pikachu's biggest strength, but it does complement the world well, giving the movie an avenue through which its viewers can explore Ryme City and the larger universe. It's in the world-building that Detective Pikachu truly shines...". While I feel that the acting is less than spectacular, notably from side characters like the love interest, whose name I already forget (Lucy Stevens by Kathryn Newton), Ryan Renold's Pikachu and Justice Smith's Tim Goodman were enough to carry the story far (props to Bill Nighy's character in the wheelchair). Overall a very, very, very fun movie that I would want to see again almost just to catch all the Pokémon they included in the backgrounds, simply because this world is immense and breathtaking. And yeah, I totally teared up at the end, no shame.
Le cerveau (1969)
Very fun film :) A classic in anglo-franco cinema
French comedy movie, starring a bunch of at-the-time famous french comédiens, as well as Mister Niven, who I vaguely know but can't place in any other roles. The story is original enough (two different types of heistmen -one top notch, the other two are real ghetto- go for the same prize, in the exact same method: adopting an old strategy of smart man because nobody will ever see it coming) to carry the comedy through, and overall is fine. I dunno if its in my toppest of tippy tops, but it wasn't bad. I guess worth a watch if someone is really into seeing all the french comédie films. Glad I watched it, for the variety in this list of otherwise very anglophone movies.
Citizen Kane (1941)
Solid film; definitely aged strangely
An interesting landmark in cinema history which is a romanticized version of (I quote from my Google Search): "American newspaper magnates William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, Chicago tycoons Samuel Insull and Harold McCormick, and aspects of the screenwriters' own lives."
Fantastic cinematography, definitely Orson Welles' magnum opus, as I can't recognise most of his other movies at all (at the time of writing).
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Awesome courtroom movie :)
I thoroughly enjoyed the performances of the main actors here, and is one of the stronger courtroom movies there is, up there in my favorites with "Inherit the wind".
Rear Window (1954)
Noice Hitchcock :)
Interesting movie with Grace Kelly and James Stewart. Love the fact that we always see everything from the apartment. It really feels like we're trapped with the character in his wheelchair.
Around the World in 80 Days (2004)
Good fun :)
While this movie has all the typical Jackie Chan fun - from great choreographed fights to a general humour towards kids but not cringy fart jokes so that's nice - I must admit I understand why it flopped (115M for 75M). The script would need some touching up and the movie could definitely be shortened. I also found the poor Englishman to be a bit of a sore gag after the first time, but that's probably because I'm not a child. Jackie Chan appeared in dozens of successful movies, and even if this wasn't one of them, I'm perfectly happy to say I enjoyed it. Also Ms de France was arguably cuter in this movie than at any other point I've seen, although that can be considered an indiscretion, and even I daresay crude. This movie is just fun, because the three main actors make it work, even if it lacks a bit of polish.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
The best CW movie out there :)
Really fun and funny movie making its fair share of commentary about the Cold War. Definitely worth the watch for just about anyone who knows anything about the CW.
Voicemails from Strangers (2019)
Awesome :)
A 50 minute doc this does something I've never seen before. I love the polish in the music, subtitles, B-roll, and structure of the voice mails. Really made me feel for every person, and capturing that level of intimacy is incredible.
Key Largo (1948)
Another Humphrey Bogart film
Nothing much to say about this movie. Definitely not something I could've picked up when watching it (perhaps because I never lived in the USA in the 20th century), but the movie draws an interesting paralel between the antagonist, a mafia boss who was at his peak during Prohibition, and the protagonist, a retired US soldier. Mr. Humphrey Bogart, to me, plays a very slight iteration of the same character archetype in every single movie (always tinged with nostalgia and regret, a mysterious man who the audience never understands until the end, etc), just like his role in Casablanca. That being said, he does it very well, and it is still endearing to watch (although these movies have to be spaced out by other movies otherwise it really does become soul-sucking).
A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)
A brilliant, complex film. A classic.
Despite having watched it, in its entirety, with my full attention, I still don't really understand what this movie was aiming for. I would definitely recommend it to someone who is into serious films and 'the classics' of cinema. I think I understand that, for its time, the concept of living in such close quarters with a stranger and him being so plainly shirtless and such is quite a daring thing to portray. Not a movie with a happy ending, and definitely a movie that moved me: I felt intrigued by the protagonist's strange demeanor, very artsy/philosophical/airy/almost disconnected. And I clearly connected with her by the end of it, because I felt bad for what she had done. The movie also touches on domestic abuse and abusive relationships, and the man in said relationship is also the main 'antagonist' here. Really deep and complex film, and I surely haven't scratched the surface of it with my short analysis.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
:)
Perhaps because I am myself related to Mediterraneans, (Southern Italians instead of Greeks, but c'mon it's practically the same thing), but this movie was one of the funniest movies I have seen of all time. It is hilarious in all its jokes and quips, very light-hearted, and overall great, great fun with iconic line after iconic line. ('"kimono" is from the greek "Chimona", which means winter, and what do you wear in winter? A coat. And there you go')
High Noon (1952)
One of the best westerns of all time.
Interesting because it builds up around 1h20 (the duration of the movie, so that's cool. I think the movie is actually pretty accurate when it comes to its timing) before midday when the fated antagonist will arrive in town and try to revenge-kill the protagonist. Face value, I feel bad for the sheriff boohoo, but he won it out because those 3 criminals weren't all that, especially the two fidgety-impatient ones, who arguably died because of it, but that might be giving their characters too much depth already. The meatier part of it is how everyone reacts: they all love their Marshall, and their town, but they're not willing to help him when it comes down to it, and upon further reflection the whole "if you're not here then he'll leave us alone n go lookin' for ya" seems a little vain, if that's the expected reaction from a murderer. Speakin' of murderin', the Marshall is at least a triple-murderer. I concur with Hancock's opinion that Grace Kelly's acting in this movie wasn't all that, in her defence she was very young, and has had better films (such as To Catch a Thief).
Casablanca (1942)
A classic
(exerpt from my Key Largo commentary) "Mr. Humphrey Bogart, to me, plays a very slight iteration of the same character archetype in every single movie (always tinged with nostalgia and regret, a mysterious man who the audience never understands until the end, etc), just like his role in Casablanca. That being said, he does it very well, and it is still endearing to watch (although these movies have to be spaced out by other movies otherwise it really does become soul-sucking." The movie touches on interesting themes of the War of the time, in a very interesting location whose angle on the war many people couldn't understand or realise at the time.
The Tourist (2010)
I don't get the hate
Hilarious script and acting; who would've guessed that A. Jolie and J. Depp made a hilarious duo (idc what the critics say, it was funny!). Shots were gorgeous (lighting on Depp's face in the night-hotel scene), acting was of course sublime, script was if anything a little predictable (I knew from the beginning that he wouldn't be just a tourist, and I also presumed that he could be the famous Alexander Pearce about halfway in, although I had no certainties. Also, idk about Depp acting like the maths teacher even when she wasn't there("but I love you" he says helplessly standing on the pier. Super criminal-thief-mastermind type.). May not be a film to last the eternal test of time, but it sure is entertaining.
"You look ravenous".
Face/Off (1997)
Fun action movie :)
Interesting movie concept, really well done for its time. Also one of the only Travolta performances I've seen other than Grease (1978), and he was hecca young there. Overall a thoroughly entertaining action movie.
The Shape of Water (2017)
Maybe not film of the year, but still great
Interesting blend of fiction and drama. I liked the diversity which was almost always nicely fitted in and/or added something (if not at the very least not actively ruining the movie, except for that gay scene. Added nothing to the whole movie, wasted a good 5 minutes, other than saying "aw shucks the 60s sure were racist and homophobic" which is not the plot of this movie). Main villain was interesting, despite being a wholly hateable character (not like Thanos~~).
Very good film, but definitely not what I would've called film of the year.
Whiplash (2014)
Whiplash: A jazzy masterpiece
An absolutely incredible movie about a jazz drummer determined to become one of the greats. While not accurately representing how jazz musicians train (nobody goes until their hand bleeds, that is counter-productive, in fact, but as said by Adam Neely, real practice is really boring and hard to romanticize (e.g. practicing scales for 5 hours, like Adam Neely did). I refer to (can you guess who?) Adam Neely's video on this movie, as I found it to be much more educated than any of my thoughts could've been. Cinematographically, the movie is absolutely incredible (lots of depth of field and interesting camera angles), and the color palettes are fantastic. The main character is difficult to only root for or hate for: he's quite nuanced, and can be a dick, and makes decisions most people would never agree with (dumping his girl because he needs more time), but we also understand his desire, and we respect his determination and drive to become one of legend. J.K Simmons' performance as the abusive teacher that pushes for greatness and perfection, nothing less, is one of the most powerful in cinema history and one of my favorites. That and Spiderman hunting, eh?
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso (1988)
Nuovo Cinema Paradiso
A truly heart-wreching story about a boy growing up, and his lack of a father figure filled in by the old man who never has kids. I heard that in the extended version he meets back up with the love interest for one final night. I find this useless, if not in fact contradictory to the story: the point isn't about the boy and the girl. It's about the boy and the man. The love interest doesn't work out by the end of it, we know that since it's mentioned that he's with a different girl every time the mother calls. But frankly that wasn't why the movie was powerful. It was a great story, almost from the point of view of the town, since the boy leaves but we never know about any of his life (or very very little) outside of the town. What he does, what he likes, what part of town he lives in. Just like the old man, we shouldn't even want to know. It doesn't concern us. This is about a chapter in his life, that is opened, closed, and then reopened to be finally shut and finished.